How to swap from auto to manual!!

1.8-liter VVTL-i (2ZZ-GE) and VVT-i (1ZZ-FE) engine, transmission, exhaust, intake, and performance tuning discussions
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Zvibe2004
Posts: 73
Joined: Thu Dec 02, 2010 9:52 am
Location: Ironton, Ohio

How to swap from auto to manual!!

Post by Zvibe2004 »

here we go!! the long awaited post telling how to swap a 03-04 base vibe from the automatic to a 5 or 6 speed, the only difference being the trans itsself. this post will be a lil while in the making, bc im in college and really dont have much free time to type this stuff up and take pics, but it will be complete!!

First off, we need a parts list!
a decent transaxle, perferrably close to or under the milage of the car, either 5 or 6 speed(your choice, but id go 6 speed)
a flywheel and bolts(could go used but i would recommend new)
a complete clutch kit(like the flywheel, id recommend new)
CV axles from or for a manual vibe or matrix
shifter cables out of any manual vibe or matrix as long as its older than 09 (corolla cables WILL NOT work!!!)
a PCM out of YOUR year vehicle with a manual (it HAS to be the same year and out of the EXACT same car, a matrix PCM WONT work in a vibe)
the rear and drivers side trans mount brackets that bolt to the trans from a manual vibe or matrix (the 5 and 6 speed use the same brackets)
a clutch master AND slave cylinder (yet again, i recommend new but used can work fine)
clutch lines
a clutch pedal (can be out of a vibe, matrix, or corolla as long as the donor car is 03-08, not sure if that whole range of corolla will work)
a shifter, either oem or short throw (a good short throw is the monkey wrench racing one for the matrix)
a shift kn0b
shift boot (get one for a vibe or matrix, and make sure it has the retainer for the bottom of the boot)
the clutch safety switch (should be on the clutch pedal assembly you get, just make sure)
some red and black 16 gauge wire
maybe shifter bushings if the cables you get dont have them or they are tore up
maybe an intake manifold gasket
some random bolts for the slave cylinder and pedal assembly
3 quarts GL-4 75w90 gear oil (i recommend redline)
maybe CV axle seals
bandaids and painkillers =p your knuckles WILL get beat up

well thats all i have time for now, hopefully i can get this more towards complete later today, and thanks to everyone on here for the support on this project!! :D
2004 Base Vibe, 134,000 on the clock and still tickin'
born automatic, NOT ANYMORE!!! it's a 6 speed now!! :D
its gonna be a mean vibe someday, to about the tune of 350-400 whp ;)
Bad Vibe
Posts: 363
Joined: Tue Jul 01, 2008 1:34 pm

Re: How to swap from auto to manual!!

Post by Bad Vibe »

sooooo how'd the swap go?

I have a beat 03 gt 6 spd with a low mile 1zz (don't ask) and a shot body wanted to move everything over to my salvage 06 awd, (not gonna play with the awd for now but maybe later...)
just want to know if its doable to get it driving as a FWD within a week b4 I disable it
Image
03 Vibe GT JDM MR-S 1ZZ-FED swapped w/C60 6 speed - Starting Part out! - 230k mi
90 Celica Alltrac Awd Turbo ST205 swap Red - sold... Buy more parts BC I'm Buying her back!
01 MR2 Spyder Vibe 2ZZ-GE w/ Jdm C65 LSD Trans swap -sold
KITT222
Posts: 2257
Joined: Sat Dec 04, 2010 1:45 pm
Location: Flint, Michigan

Re: How to swap from auto to manual!!

Post by KITT222 »

He did this long ago, so it has been done. The k-frame and mounting bits should be the same from FWD to AWD (I don't see why they wouldn't be). In addition to the auto-manual swap, you would need to replace the ECU and such. Which, if the pins and such are dead-on, could be simple. I encourage you to give it a go. I'd like to see how an AWD chassis lightened up would act, especially if the IRS is superior to the semi-IRS.
Bad Vibe
Posts: 363
Joined: Tue Jul 01, 2008 1:34 pm

Re: How to swap from auto to manual!!

Post by Bad Vibe »

I know the engine trans and ecu will work out I was more concerned about installing the pedals, shift cables and hydraulics is everything predrilled/ tapped or do you need to do crazy modification to the firewall, parts are no prob as I have complete gt donor, thx for response
Image
03 Vibe GT JDM MR-S 1ZZ-FED swapped w/C60 6 speed - Starting Part out! - 230k mi
90 Celica Alltrac Awd Turbo ST205 swap Red - sold... Buy more parts BC I'm Buying her back!
01 MR2 Spyder Vibe 2ZZ-GE w/ Jdm C65 LSD Trans swap -sold
KITT222
Posts: 2257
Joined: Sat Dec 04, 2010 1:45 pm
Location: Flint, Michigan

Re: How to swap from auto to manual!!

Post by KITT222 »

Everything is marked and fairly obvious when the sound deadening is removed up under the dash, but its only 2 small holes for bolts and one big hole for the clutch pushrod
-From zvibe04
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